Capital News: Many questions in Ohio awaiting answers in the new year

Columbus -- Gov. John Kasich and other Statehouse Republicans answered lots of questions in 2012.

Most recently, the administration unveiled its plans to use the Ohio Turnpike to leverage billions of dollars to pay for road and bridge projects that otherwise would have taken decades to complete.

That announcement drew mostly praise from groups that were worried the governor might sell or lease the toll road to a private party that would reap untold fortunes while northern Ohio communities suffered.

But there are still plenty of questions that will require answers in the new year -- what will the governor propose for school funding and reform, will the next biennial budget require steep spending cuts, how will federal health care changes ultimately affect Ohioans?

Here are a few others:

• Will Kasich get his severance tax hike and income tax cut?

For months, Kasich has called for an increase in the tax rates on oil and gas production, given the growing oilfields tapping eastern Ohio's shale deposits.

His comments have become more pointed as of late, with much ire directed at energy companies that bring in out-of-state workers for jobs that many believe should be filled by Ohioans.

The fact that Carroll County and other areas are booming as a result of horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is beside the point.

Kasich believes the state's severance tax is way too low and the state's income tax is way too high. He's going to offer a tax reform package in the new year that will address those two and likely other issues.

Republican lawmakers balked at his frack tax proposal in 2012. Will they continue to do so in 2013?

• Which issues will make it onto the November ballot?

There are three groups that have received permission from the secretary of state and attorney general to circulate petitions to place proposed constitutional amendments before voters.

Ohioans didn't hear much from any of them during the busy presidential campaign of 2012, but they're likely to resurface in the new year.

Leading the way could be a right-to-work initiative that would ban mandatory dues payments and membership.

Another would legalize marijuana for medicinal uses, while a third would pave the way for gay marriage.

All three are hot-button issues that have been addressed in other states in recent months.

In an off-year election, they could draw much attention and campaign spending to Ohio in 2013.

• What about the Republican super majorities in the Ohio House and Senate?

Republican legislative leaders and Kasich aren't talking about citizen-led initiatives or other issues that could make their way to the ballot, with assistance from GOP super majorities in the Ohio House and Senate.

Republicans already controlled both chambers, but they required a few Democratic votes to place issues before voters.

That's no longer the case, with House Republicans picking up enough seats and the Senate maintaining its majority.

Reporters have asked Kasich repeatedly whether he would support a right-to-work effort or other ballot initiatives.

He's declined to give definitive responses to such questions in the past, though he could be forced to take sides if lawmakers decide an issue requires immediate voter attention.

Marc Kovac is the Dix Capital Bureau Chief. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.